Chapter 9 - THE LITTLE GIRL WHO WASN'T AFRAID
Sophie returned to the estate several weeks later.
Only for an afternoon.
Only because Elena agreed.
The investigation was still ongoing.
Victor was no longer in control of security.
New personnel had been hired.
The household had changed.
But Sophie seemed most interested in the garden.
She ran toward the roses.
Dante followed at a distance.
“Mr. Dante!”
He looked up.
Sophie held a small white flower.
“Look!”
He smiled.
“Beautiful.”
She ran toward him.
Then stopped.
“Are you still sad?”
Dante frowned.
“Why do you ask?”
She looked at him seriously.
“Because grown-ups get sad when bad people trick them.”
Dante stared.
Then he knelt.
“Yes,” he said quietly. “Sometimes they do.”
Sophie thought for a moment.
Then handed him the flower.
“This helps.”
Dante accepted it.
He looked at the tiny white petals.
Then at the little girl.
“Thank you.”
Sophie smiled.
Then she asked:
“Are you going to marry the bad lady?”
Dante shook his head.
“No.”
Sophie nodded.
“Good.”
He laughed.
She looked pleased.
For the first time in months, Dante laughed without forcing himself.
From the terrace, Elena watched.
May you like
She had never imagined seeing Dante Moretti kneeling in the grass while a six-year-old girl explained how flowers could fix sadness.
And she had certainly never imagined that the sight would make her smile.
